So what is fashion to me? Part of it is to catch a moment of beauty and know that it can be shared by many. The beauty can be in a garment, in a flower, in the soft snow falling outside…Wait a minute! That`s not fashion you may say, maybe so but everything can be turned into fashion. What inspires fashion is in all life, in the great nature as well as in the city, in a word or a mood. Fashion is like the platform that puts it together in a form that is appealing in the moment, mostly in a garment form but it could also be a chair form for instance. Be with me or oppose me! Fashion is a moment. A moment in time. An expression of beauty in a specific form at a specific moment.

Is this fashion? Same story by David bailey for English Vogue early 70s. Remember the security man walking away with the jewelry attached by a chain to his wrist (last story)? These were some of the really expensive diamonds…for whatever it`s worth I remember it being a real cool feeling to wear all of this…and then walk out of the studio as a free human being, a free soul…unattached.

What is fashion? Is it a garment, a time period, a certain style, a creative expression, a co-laboration between designer stylist photographer model and media…or something else? It would be interesting to hear some of your thoughts around fashion! I am definitely writing this blog on a site that is fashion orientated. I have lots of pictures of myself as a fashion model, that I share here, both from the70s and now. But what is fashion? For me it is so much more than clothes and style expressions. Lets explore it together! I want to open up the fashion box and put in some special treasures…

David Bailey  and me for English Vogue-early 70s. I remember coming into the Vogue studio early morning, David was there, clothes were hanging on a rack, the stylist, if my memory is good, was Grace Coddington. Her and David were going through their ideas of how to do this shoot. There was a security guard to watch the jewelry from theft, all pearls and other jewelry were expensive stuff…(my mind said I will never be that rich…true or not?) There was a softness this day, this working day with David, that was unusual with him. We went quiet and deep. I touched a beautiful place of Inner Beauty in me, a place of innocence, of not trying to bring something out but just resting in Me. That`s how I remember it. And I also remember feeling very soft at the end of the day. Walking away alone…to meet another moment. The jewelry walked away with the security man in an safe bag attached with a chain around his wrist. I was not rich…I was content and grateful for my day at work. So what is Fashion? Let`s explore…!!!

After fashion week some of my own small creations

A little bag I made of scraps…I like to keep scraps when I do bigger things and create something small of them

the bag and an eagle feather…

my favorite scarf.

Another David Bailey picture from  Italian Vouge early 70s. Today I´ve seen 3 great shows at the MBFW Sthlm, the first one was Beckmans school of design, I SO Love when the 2 nd year students have their material show, it is so outstanding creative and inspiring. The other one was Altewai Samoe, SOOO good! They have the skills of couture AND they are rising the level of their creativity for each show. I saw their first show and that was amazing! This one even more. It`s like every millimeter is right, right length, right width, right place…right shape…to me it`s one of those moments when it all falls into place and the stillness of beauty happens. Then came Diana Orving and AGAIN it was perfect, she has such a skill of draping and shaping, many times her shows are mostly that. This time it was highlighted by some very well tailored coats and jackets…and the music was just carrying the whole show to a dimension beyond…

Back to Milano early 70s. Grand hotel di Milano. How I loved to come to my huge hotel room there with this super twin bed, crisp linen sheets on duvet…and five pillows. Not to talk about the bathtub! Coming into the room, unpacking my few things, the clothes, the book, my writing book…and run a bath…a luxury I enjoyed so deeply. Then going out for dinner in the student and artist area around the corner, some good simple pasta and warm atmosphere. The more I remember about my early years as a model, traveling the world and building my whole bank of experiences, the richer I feel…the deeper my gratitude. And the deeper my gratitude, the richer my life.

At The Fashion week in Stockholm, day two now. Here at Rodeo you will get all the information and pictures from the shows…I am reflecting back in time and finding some oldies that can fit into some of the mood of the shows today…

like this one from Italian Vogue by David Bailey, early 70s. Staying at the Grand hotel di Milano, I remember well the sofas we were hanging out on before dinner, David always making his rude jokes and saying he was gonna get me laid…it didn`t happen, it was not for us at all. Him and me it was the camera, there was a lot going between him and me through the lens, that`s all. It was fun though to meet his attitude, play back and forth and then…BANG…the magic moment would be there when we GOT the picture! You can feel it. It doesn`t have to be looking a special way, that`s not it. It is a feeling, a knowing that the moment stands still and something has been transmitted, a moment of beauty, a moment meeting the moment in itself. Fashion is so much more than you can imagine. It is not what it looks like. It is something else. And catching that something makes the picture.

I loved this full day and night and just feel the bliss from it still

Robert watching the model coming back after the show. Her dress had to be all put together with gaffa just moments before she walked out on stage…it broke

look at this happy face!

Getting…

undressed

Relaxing…

enjoying…

the show is over…

private life continues…

and the party has begun.

Top model Frida won the price as best model

and has the award in her hand as she walks out to get dressed for the party. Thank you ELLE for this great and wonderful day and night. Happy as a child enjoying every moment! That is one of my qualities. the ability to enjoy the moment and when it`s great like this it is the best.

To be a model in a show like this, the yearly Elle-gala, is a full day and full night at work. At Grand Hotel in Stockholm where this is taking place, breakfast, lunch snacks and dinner is being served. The models waiting for their turn of make-up and hair fix spend some time at the food area set up for this.  Some already know each other and some get to have a first meeting. In the modeling world meetings are often brief. Some meet once, others meet over and over again. It is so important to have an inner stability  in this changing job where nothing is stable. Often we get to know if we are confirmed for a job, a day or two before. There is no stable income and certainly no stable fame. What is, is a great opportunity for those who like adventure, creativity and the freedom to live life from moment to moment while working …and actually have a very good time.

This young model is only 15. Her mother told her that she was only allowed to do this show if she did her schoolwork during the day. I can assure her mum that shed did at least 2 hrs at the dinner table…

and she was very concentrated. It felt so good sitting next to her and see/ feel her concentration.

Such a Beauty!

Some other girls were watching funny cats on the mobile…giggling together …

and others choose a more quiet corner to sit…

The Elle gala, moments before the show…an hour later it was full on.

Before show was so calm, it seemed, everyone doing their part in confidence and calm. I was impressed by it all being such a wonderful atmosphere. I realize when everyone do their part, know what to do and do it well, the most amazing co-creation happens. Here is one of the places where this happens once a year at least. All make-up artists come together, hair-stylists, models etc. People that mostly work on their own projects unite in this time to co-create….and peace happens. It is great. Here some more before show and the show itself…

3 beauties doing the show for Robert Rydberg

I will fill in with names and details later, this is for now. Enjoy!

This year I had the great opportunity to be invited behind the scenes before the show, by Robert Rydberg and the ELLE-team. God, I was happy! So much creativity, inspiration, good energy and lots of friends to hang out with. I truly honor the fantastic professional people in all their different skills, stylists, hair and make up, editors, set designers, photographers, models, dressing helpers, costume makers, food makers, the and coffee makers…sound and light…event guru Micael Bindefeld…everyone that sets up the night…and so much more.

And so much more to come…

I love this picture of a model back-stage at the ELLE gala. We were hanging out with the great stylist Robert Rydberg before the show, talking and having a good time. She was one of the models in his show, the final, the 25 year anniversary show. Fantastic show. Robert had created most of the clothes himself,together with his team, much of it re-created, transformed and turned around with his immense talent! I was amazed by each entry on stage all modeled by well known personalities. And I love those young models (sorry I will add her name ) so full of wit, curiosity and open mindedness. talking about make up or not…ears… etc…the funny thing is that most models I know including myself, wear no make up when private. Could part of it be that we are so “seen” when we work, that we can play out all those needs and are simply filled? Then we state examples to the readers of fashion magazines of how to look, which make up to wear and which hair. And which clothes to wear. While we, the models, often don`t follow any of that. Fashion is truly a work of art, a creation that we can be inspired by…and very much so, since a lot of creativity has been put into it, like a painter with his canvas, colors and skill is expressing some kind of perfection of beauty. A reflection of the beauty of life.

Here is one. More will follow. Thank you Robert. Thank you Elle.